Method and a cassette holder for performing x-ray examination

Abstract

In connection with X-ray or like examination there is used a cassette holder arrangement which is carried by a frame structure (7) by means of pivotal arms (4) which are capable of being swung in the horizontal plane, such as to adjust the position of the cassette in the vertical direction. The arrangement enables pictures to be taken of a sitting patient in mutually perpendicular directions, with the aid of a radiation source (2). The cassette holder (3) can be swung between the exposure positions in a circuit path around the sitting patient, by activation of one of the arms (4). To this end there can be used a parallel linkage (11) which is operative to guide the cassette holder during this pivotal movement. the cassette holder is fixated relative to one of the arms (4), by means of a locking device (8), which is released when wishing to pivot the cassette holder. The invention also relates to a cassette holder arrangement of the aforedescribed kind.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method for performing X-ray examination with the use of a cassette-carried receptor intended to receive radiation from a radiation source which is set to take two or more pictures of a patient in exposure positions in at least approximately perpendicular directions, said cassette being detachably received in a holder which is carried by a frame structure and which can be adjusted positionally in a vertical direction, characterized by pivotally mounting the cassette holder on the end of one or more pivotal arms which can be swung in the horizontal plane; and activating said pivotal arm or arms such as to move the cassette holder between the various exposure positions while automatically guiding the holder in a circuit path past a sitting patient. 
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, characterized by releasably locking the cassette holder to the pivotal arm in said exposure positions. 
     
     
       3. A cassette holder device for X-ray examination with the aid of a cassette-carried receptor intended for receiving radiation from a radiation source (2), said cassette being removably located in a holder (3) which is carried by carrier means (4) on a frame structure (7) for vertical adjustment in relation to said frame structure, characterized in that the carrier means includes at least one arm (4) which can be pivoted in the horizontal plane and which is pivotally connected at one end thereof to the cassette holder (3) so that when taking pictures in at least approximately perpendicular directions on a sitting patient (15), it can be moved between the exposure positions in a circuit path past the patient. 
     
     
       4. A cassette holder device according to claim 3, characterized in that the cassette holder (3) is carried by an upper and a lower arm (4) which engage approximately centrally with two mutually opposing sides of the cassette holder (3). 
     
     
       5. A cassette holder device according to claim 4 characterized by means (8) for releasably locking the cassette holder in relation to one of the arms (4). 
     
     
       6. A cassette holder device according to claim 3, characterized by a parallel linkage (11) which is operative to guide the cassette holder (3) in said path when the arm (4) is pivoted. 
     
     
       7. A cassette holder device according to claim 3, characterized by a detachably mounted element (16) on the cassette holder by means of which the cassette holder can be gripped by said patient while an exposure is taken. 
     
     
       8. A cassette holder device according to claim 3, characterized by an element mounted on the cassette holder by means of which the cassette holder can be gripped by said patient while an exposure is taken.